Murali, Bajji all set for series duel

India and Sri Lanka look set to rely on their medium-pacers in their three-Test series starting on Tuesday, but cricket fans will hope the shine on the ball wears off fast.

Both teams have indicated that the new ball bowlers will spearhead the respective attacks in the first Test in the southern seaside town of Galle, on a grassy pitch.

But two tweakers from either side, Muttiah Muralitharan and India's Harbhajan Singh, could provide a real twist to the script, with India skipper Saurav Ganguly saying that the series will be an interesting contest between "the world's best two off-spinners."

But the idea of a second spinner does not seem to figure high in either team's plans.

Sri Lanka ignored the claims of experienced off-break bowler Kumar Dharmasena, picking five pacemen in the squad.

India have leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule and left-arm Rahul Sanghvi in their ranks, but neither has played for India since a home Test series win over Australia early this year.

Sanghvi was in the squad but did not play in the recent one-day tri-series in Colombo where Singh was joint top wicket-taker with 11 while Muralitharan was miserly as well in claiming nine to help the hosts win the title.

But Muralitharan and Singh won't mind some time away from the spotlight.

Both have had the full glare of the media turned on them for the wrong reasons and have shown resilience to bounce back, instilling confidence in their captains and fear among rivals.

CHUCKING CONTROVERSY

Muralitharan was called for chucking seven times by Australian umpire Darrel Hair on a Test tour six years ago, and faced the charge again when his team toured that country three years later.

The issue ended only after the wrist spinner was cleared, physiological tests showing he has a naturally bent elbow.

Singh showed early promise on debut in a 2-1 home test series win over Australia in 1997-98.

But his open-chested action was questioned soon after and he had to undergo corrective steps under former England off-spinner Fred Titmus in England.

He then found himself in more trouble, this time for his poor attitude and his career looked all but over when he was expelled from the national cricket academy for indiscipline last year.

His father also passed away to bring more grief, but that firmed his resolve with both skipper Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar goading him on to make a comeback.

Singh, 21, made a sensational return against the Australians at home, leading the way in the absence of injured leg-spinner Anil Kumble and capturing a record 32 wickets in the three-Test series.

That included the first Test hat-trick by an Indian as India claimed a superb 2-1 comeback victory.

MORE VARIATIONS

The lean bowler has worked on more variations like developing the ball that drifts away, and took 10 wickets in the two-test series in Zimbabwe in June which ended 1-1.

Both bowlers will have their agendas, Muralitharan in particular hoping to end suggestions that batsmen have begun countering his sharp turn with pad play.

Sri Lankan coach Dave Whatmore said both have different bowling styles but the same outlook towards the game.

"On the one hand you have a fellow (Muralitharan) who has taken over 300 wickets and proven a match-winner, a world class performer and on the other a youngster (Singh) beginning on the road to success and showing other attributes you need to be a success.

"Harbhajan is going to be a very good player because he has got that terrific thirst for success.

Indian batsmen struggled against Muralitharan in the one-day series but can take some solace from his record against India -- 28 wickets in nine tests at 44.14 runs apiece against his overall record of 317 in 62 tests at 25.62.

Mail Cricket Editor